A fan of the "Carry On" series in which Hawtrey starred, John Lennon introduces the song "Two of Us" by saying, "I dig a Pygmy by Charles Hawtrey and the Deaf Aids . . . Phase One in which Doris gets her oats," on The Beatles "Let It Be" album.
Along with Sid James, Kenneth Williams, and Joan Sims and Hattie Jacques he became one of the longest serving Carry On stars, appearing in 23 of the films.
Came from a theatrical family and claimed at one point that his father was the Edwardian actor Charles Hawtrey. His father was actually a motor mechanic.
Friends with Carry On co-star Joan Sims..
Had a very unusual acting style, where he would often deliver his lines directly to the camera. This is obvious throughout many of the "Carry On..." films and was encouraged by director Gerald Thomas. His acting style, laugh and spectacles became instantly recognizable trademarks.
He lived in an old smuggler's cottage near the seafront at Deal, from which he was rescued during a fire in 1984.
He was unmarried.
His face is the cover of "The Very Best of The Smiths" compilation album (released 2001).
His father was a motor mechanic.
His first Carry On film was Carry on Sergeant (1958) and his last was Carry on Abroad (1972).
His name had, in fact been borrowed from the celebrated Edwardian actor-manager Sir Charles Hawtrey, who died in 1923, a couple of years before the young Hawtrey (nee Hartree) began his career as a boy soprano.
His recreations included playing the piano and collecting antiques.
In 1957 he appeared in the popular TV comedy series "The Army Game" (1957) as one of the scruffy lead-swinging squaddies stationed at the forgotten transit camp of Nether Hopping.
In a dispute with producer Peter Rogers over star billing for the 1972 Carry On Christmas television programme, he did not appear in subsequent Carry On movies and went into semi-retirement. There were also concerns about his heavy drinking throughout the filming of Carry on Abroad (1972).